Lottery

The White Mountains 100 Lottery and How It Works

The interest in the WM100 since the inaugural year in 2010 has increased beyond our expectations. The entries received the first two years greatly exceeded the number allowed by our Bureau of Land Management permit. For 2015, that limit is again 65.

The registration process became a “race” in itself as entries were received either online or through the mail on a first-come, first-serve basis. This resulted in an unfair advantage to applicants with a speedy internet connection or the convenience of directly dropping an entry form into our mailbox.

Therefore, a lottery has been instituted in an effort to provide the fairest means possible of choosing the starting field. The registration period for the lottery will be open for 6 weeks (see below), which will eliminate the rush to submit entry forms for the race. In addition, this process will not discriminate against applicants based on their internet speed, for those that may not have internet access when registration opens, etc. A 6 week registration period should provide adequate time for individuals to find a computer (or a friend with a computer) and register for the race.

The WM100 race directors have elected to reserve a number of slots for certain individuals. Below is a summary of reserved spots for the 2014 race:

1. The 1st place male finishers for each category from the 2014 race (ski, bike, foot);

2. The 1st place female finishers for each category from the 2014 race (ski, bike, foot)

3. Four race volunteers from the 2014 race.

All individuals that qualify for a reserved spot on the roster MUST complete the online application at UltraSignup.com and observe the same deadlines as those imposed for all other registrants during the lottery registration period. In the case that a top male or female finisher does not submit an entry form for the WM100 during the 6 week registration window, their reserved slot will be forfeited. If more than four volunteers from the 2014 race submit entry forms, a separate lottery of volunteer entries will be performed to fill the four reserved slots. Any remaining volunteer entries will be placed in the general applicant pool. Should it become an issue as to the definition of a volunteer (i.e. number of hours given, pre-race volunteers versus during race), the race directors will have the ultimate discretion. The intent is to show our appreciation for the significant amount of time and effort that our volunteers have given to make this race successful.

Applicants’ names will be put into subdivision-based "hats" (Ski, Bike, Run). The 65 available slots will be divided up based on percentage of registrants per subdivision (e.g. if 100 people register and 60% are bikers, 30% skiers and 10% runners, then there will be 39 biker slots, 20 skiers slots and 6 runners slots). This allows for equal chance of entry per subdivision. From each subdivision "hat", names will be drawn at random by members of the audience at a public lottery in Fairbanks on Wednesday October 16, 2014 at 6:30pm at Ivory Jacks. There will be separate wait-lists for each subdivision. After the first 65 slots are filled, the remaining names will continue to be pulled from the “hats” to determine the order of each of the three wait-list rosters. If a participant drops off the roster, his or her slot will be filled from the appropriate wait-list. If a subdivision wait-list becomes empty, then any open slots in that subdivision will be filled by alternating between the other two wait-lists. This lottery system does not change the odds of gaining a slot for any individual or for any mode of transport; it merely ensures that random chance won't result in a highly skewed roster. As in past years, participants will be welcome to change their mode of transportation at race-day registration, should they wish to do so. The lottery is open to the public, and applicants, volunteers, friends and family are encouraged to attend (over age 21 only). Special prizes will be given to Lottery winners who are present. Registration will remain open after the lottery and additional entries will be placed on the wait-list rosters in the order they are received.